Fire Season in South Africa: Is Your Insurance Cover Ready?

As South Africa moves into the warmer months, the risks facing homeowners, businesses and landowners begin to change. Dry vegetation increases the threat of veldfires, while thunderstorms and hail can cause significant damage to property and vehicles.

Now is the time to make sure your insurance cover is ready for fire and storm season.

Fire Prevention Is a Legal Responsibility

Under the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, landowners and occupiers have a legal responsibility to take steps to prevent fires from starting and spreading.

Failing to take reasonable precautions could also affect an insurance claim and potentially leave you liable for damage caused to neighbouring properties.

Landowners should ensure that firebreaks are properly maintained, firefighting equipment is available, fire danger conditions are monitored and relevant fire-prevention requirements are followed.

Joining your local Fire Protection Association can also form an important part of managing your veldfire risk.

Are You Adequately Insured?

Having insurance doesn't always mean you are adequately insured. Building and replacement costs change over time. If the sum insured on your policy no longer reflects the true replacement value of your property or assets, you could be underinsured.

For example, being underinsured by 20% could mean carrying 20% of a claim yourself when average is applied.

This makes regularly reviewing your short-term insurance cover in South Africa especially important.

Has Anything Changed?

Changes to your circumstances can also affect your insurance. A new tenant, home business, vehicle modification, security change or other change in risk should be disclosed to your insurer or broker. Keeping your policy information accurate can help prevent complications when you need to claim.

Before fire and storm season intensifies, ask yourself: Is my sum insured still accurate?Has anything changed since my last insurance review?

If you're unsure, speak to I Manage Risk. We can help you review your current cover and make sure your insurance continues to reflect your risks.